School me on race skis

[MagnificentUnicorn]

My hard snow ski is the MX83. I like it’s versatility more than the Supershape type skis. I’ve tried gs race skis but they’re not fun on an open piste with others around.


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[TAFKALVS]

I mean, this is TGR… get all 3

[utagonian]

Everything is a compromise. A race ski is going to be the right tool early, but as conditions change (snow and people) they can absolutely suck. Are you willing to head back to the car after an hour to change to a conditions appropriate ski?


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This is so true. They are best suited to skiing alone or with similarly equipped friends.

[Tony911]

I use to race, and the idea of someone coming down the hill behind me that has never raced or been on race skis, on a 30m GS ski is terrifying.

[SoVT Joey]

I use to race, and the idea of someone coming down the hill behind me that has never raced or been on race skis, on a 30m GS ski is terrifying.

I completely agree.


this is what you seek. https://www.coloradodiscountskis.com...C_Xcell14.html

[TAFKALVS]

I use to race, and the idea of someone coming down the hill behind me that has never raced or been on race skis, on a 30m GS ski is terrifying.

It just doesn’t even sound fun to me. 30M on a race ski is very different than a fat ski. Unless you’re on really hard snow with a race boot and can commit to the fall line and bend the fuck out of that ski, it’s gonna toss you more than reward you.

A beer league or ski instructor ski(I call them nerd skis) is the way to go. 17m is a nice radius for making bigger turns but still being able to snap tight turns as well.

I however would avoid some of the ultra tight sidecut skis like some of the narrower Head Super Shapes… unless being violently whipped from tiny turn to tiny turn sounds fun. 10m sidecut is stupid.

[SoVT Joey]

It just doesn’t even sound fun to me. 30M on a race ski is very different than a fat ski. Unless you’re on really hard snow with a race boot and can commit to the fall line and bend the fuck out of that ski, it’s gonna toss you more than reward you.

A beer league or ski instructor ski(I call them nerd skis) is the way to go. 17m is a nice radius for making bigger turns but still being able to snap tight turns as well.

I however would avoid some of the ultra tight sidecut skis like some of the narrower Head Super Shapes… unless being violently whipped from tiny turn to tiny turn sounds fun. 10m sidecut is stupid.

I love my 193 men’s FIS ski. But I don’t recommend it for anyone.

[jummo]

It's not about skiing on a race ski, it's about learning to run gates.
If you want to be a better skier, in my not at all humble opinion, there is no better way.
No need to become a racer geek.
When you go skiing you turn when and where you want, on remarkable forgiving and tolerant equipment.
In gates, you have to make the right turn, at the right time, in the right place.
And then you go back and try again. And again. And so on.
Ideally, on a firm and prepared surface.

And if you have proper equipment, with a level of accuracy that all mountain skis don't even vaguely approach.

If all you ever ski on is a AT boot you will think they ski great. And if you only ski on a +90 metal laminate ski you will think they rule. (and they do).

But, if you have a properly set up race boot, and a 19-27 meter gs ski, you will know otherwise.
If you spend some time in the morning running gates, and then go freesking in the afternoon on your clown skis, it's quite apparent the first couple of runs.

If you ski your powder skis with a race boot, it makes them seem extra dumb.
If you ski your gs ski with your hybrid boot, you might die.

And when the skiing isn't very good cause there isn't much snow, being able to rip groomers or run gates is an awesome alternative.

If nothing else, spending some time on a 165 SL ski will very quickly reveal whether you know how to ski or not.

[SnowMachine]

I completely agree.


this is what you seek. https://www.coloradodiscountskis.com...C_Xcell14.html

Great.... now I want some skinny skis.

[Bosco]

It seems to me that if you're going to be on race skis that you'd also have to be on race type boots to get the full experiance, and not the boots that most TGR types use?

[toast2266]

This discussion has become infected with racer dorks.

WRG: just buy something cheap and fast looking on Craigslist / eBay. You'll have fun on them.

[davjr96]

It seems to me that if you're going to be on race skis that you'd also have to be on race type boots to get the full experiance, and not the boots that most TGR types use?

I normally ski Technica Mach 1s. As a test I tried out some Cochise 130s with some Real FIS Slalom Skis (like, a model not available to a public). It was incredibly challenging to transfer power through the boots. Back to the Mach 1s after a run and all was fine. Sure a plug boot would probably be even better, but I am never putting my foot in a race boot again now that I don't have to lol. I think most high end consumer boots 130/140 flex should be "ok" with race skis. Anything less than that or hybrid types will probably cause issues.

[SoVT Joey]

This discussion has become infected with racer dorks.

WRG: just buy something cheap and fast looking on Craigslist / eBay. You'll have fun on them.

Well normally if someone wants to learn things about something they ask people that actually know about those things…. I don’t ask a bartender how to fix my diesel motor. So why would I ask a dentist jerry with no race background to teach about race skis?

[anotherVTskibum]

It seems to me that if you're going to be on race skis that you'd also have to be on race type boots to get the full experiance, and not the boots that most TGR types use?

This is true, although I have skied a pair of Atomic 188/30 (probably 19-20 model year) with green Lange Freetour XT "pro" boots with reasonable results. A proper race boot (Atomic TI or STI, Rossi/Lange alphabet soup, etc) will absolutely let you get the most out of proper race skis, but they also take some setup work (both fit proper fit and alignment).

For off-peak groomer ripping at Big Sky, I'd 100% suggest a current-generation FIS GS ski (188/30 or 192/30). With the pitch and space available, the stability of a proper ski will be worth the effort.

[toast2266]

Well normally if someone wants to learn things about something they ask people that actually know about those things…. I don’t ask a bartender how to fix my diesel motor. So why would I ask a dentist jerry with no race background to teach about race skis?

Teaching means teaching. Half the comments in here are basically saying to not even bother if you didn't spend your formative years banging gates and you're not daily driving 150+ flex plugs. Which is just silly.

[XXX-er]

once a year the ski club puts on a DH race on its a closed green run, we put up B nets people bring out their 223's and wear skin suits somebody borrows a speed gun from the RCMP the fastest people might go 125kph. I find 223's harder to ski and not really much fun but I don't find a GS ski all that hard as long as there isnt any new snow and there isnt anyone to hit but often you are the only person on a run up here

last month I traded away my 223 RC4 which i had originally traded for an espresso m/c for a couple of 6 packs

[PB]

It seems to me that if you're going to be on race skis that you'd also have to be on race type boots to get the full experiance, and not the boots that most TGR types use?

Full experiences aren't always required. I'm fine with half-experiences.

Yes, I only use half a binding on my "race" skis, with a bellows flexing boot.

[skaredshtles]

Full experiences aren't always required. I'm fine with half-experiences.

Hell - I'm fine with 1/4 and even 1/8 experiences, if I'm honest. I'm a skilless hack that would *still* like to try out a race ski at some point...

[Mofro261]

Hell - I'm fine with 1/4 and even 1/8 experiences, if I'm honest. I'm a skilless hack that would *still* like to try out a race ski at some point...

If you do, I'd suggest to use just enough to take the edge off but not the whole 1/8 (or 1/4!) before you take them out.

[skaredshtles]

If you do, I'd suggest to use just enough to take the edge off but not the whole 1/8 (or 1/4!) before you take them out.

[dcpnz]

Half the comments in here are basically saying to not even bother if you didn't spend your formative years banging gates and you're not daily driving 150+ flex plugs. Which is just silly.

Yeah I agree

But theres also a bunch of us that are saying go for it, get a race ski but giving advice to just not get a 30m FIS ski.

[XXX-er]

to not get a 30m FIS ski.

but thats ^^ why they were cheap, I know its just crazy talk but they still turn without the gates

For shits and giggles i weighed the redsters, it doesnt look like much ski, I dunno if its the binding system or the metal in the ski but they are fucking heavy at 16.4 whereas a portly looking set of lotus 120's are only 14.2

[waxman]

I'm all for guys taking race skis out. If you want race ski fun without the dumb FIS radius rules see if you can find a ski cross ski. They tend to be shorter without a 30+ meter radius. Or ski a mens SL in 165 as a GS ski that works too. In the 90s I think every guy that worked at our shop had 220+ DH boards that we would take to Nakiska on weekdays to blow the cobwebs out.
The accountant in the office above the store ended up buying one guys 223 redsleds to cruise around on weekdays. That dude never tucked anything ever but felt they were "like driving a Cadillac on a higway"
I know that when I go out on anything other than slaloms now the trees come at me really fast and I end up pitching them sideways a lot more than my younger days.

[Iowagriz]

I've also thought about this before, but have decided to go with a non- race groomer zoomer in the future.

I believe Djongo skis (or used to) the Rossi Experience 100 (I do as well). A very versatile ski with decent carving characteristics. My future ski would be an Experience 70-80 (can't remember which model). That would be a good carver, spring skiing, and hardback day ski.

However, I haven't researched, but I get the impression that the recent year of the Experience line has now been dumbed down to more of an intermediate ski. I'll probably have to find something similar in a different brand.

All of these are under r20, if I remember correctly.

[Whiteroom_Guardian]

Ok so those rossis I posted up thread at 27 meter radius in a 182. Probably just a stupid ski to have......but dude has had them listed for $150 for 6 weeks....and he still has them. Could probably get for a cool Benjamin.

I used to have BMX 105 with the metal in them. Stupidly I sold them last year. Now we have full on east coast manmade conditions only.